VECTORS

Scalar
Physical quantities that can be represented by a single number
Vectors
Physical quantities that have both magnitude and direction
Right Triangle Relations
Notational Convention
Vector:
or or A or a

Magnitude:
A or a or
Unit Vector
The direction of a vector can be
represented by a unit vector that is
parallel to that vector.

Notation:
Vector Components
2D Cartesian coordinate system

(Ax , Ay )
Ay

A
Component Form,

Ax
Vector Components
2D Cartesian coordinate system
Vector Components
Example: ⃗
𝑬
What are the x- and y
components of vector E = 𝜷
4.50m and the angle
Vector Components
Given: ⃗
𝑬
E = 4.50m and
𝜷
𝜽
Vector Components
Given: ⃗
𝑬
E = 4.50m and
y
Solution: 𝜽
x
Vector Components
Solution: ⃗
𝑬
y
𝜽
In Vector Form,
x
 Vector Components
⃗
𝑬
From the components, what is the y
magnitude and direction of vector 𝜽
x
Angles

40 𝜽 =𝟓𝟎
30 𝜽=𝟏𝟓𝟎
60 20
𝜽=𝟐𝟒𝟎
𝜽=𝟑𝟒𝟎
Angles
Vector Addition
Consider two vectors:
+
+

Resultant Vector:
+
Vector Addition
Example:

72.4 m, 32.0° east of north

57.3 m, 36.0° south of west
17.8 m due south
Vector Addition ⃗
𝑨

32.0

36.0

⃗
𝑩 ⃗
𝑪
Vector Addition
Example:
72.4 m, 32.0° east of north
57.3 m, 36.0° south of west
17.8 m due south
Vector Addition
Example:
72.4 m, 32.0° east of north
57.3 m, 36.0° south of west
17.8 m due south

west of north
Motion Along A Straight
Line

DISPLACEMENT AND VELOCITY

Displacement
Distance moved by a particle or body in a specific direction. 

Note that is not the product of and x; it is a single symbol that means
“the change in the quantity x.” We always use the Greek capital letter
(delta) to represent a change in a quantity, equal to the final value of
the quantity minus the initial value—never the reverse.
Average Velocity
• Number Line
Average Velocity
The average velocity is calculated as the ratio between the
displacement and the time interval during the displacement. Thus, the
average velocity between p1 and p2 can be calculated as:
Average Velocity
Average x-velocity, straight-line motion:
Displacement
Displacement based on the expression for the average velocity:

Hence,

when the velocity is constant, so is the average velocity between any

two separate time points.
Displacement
Thus, the total displacement magnitude is the rectangular area under
the velocity-versus-time graph (subtended by the change in time).
 Displacement
The total displacement can be calculated in a similar manner by summing the
rectangular areas defined by small intervals in time and the local average
velocity. The local average velocity is then approximately the value of the
velocity at a given number of time intervals. Say, there are n time intervals
between time t1 and t2, the total displacement x is obtained by summing the
displacements from the small time intervals as follows:

X=
Average Velocity
Rules for the Sign of x-Velocity
If the x-coordinate is: . . . the x-velocity is:
Positive: Particle is moving in +x –
Positive & increasing (getting more
positive) direction.
Average Velocity
Rules for the Sign of x-Velocity
If the x-coordinate is: . . . the x-velocity is:
Negative: Particle is moving in -x –
Positive & decreasing (getting less
positive) direction
Average Velocity
Rules for the Sign of x-Velocity
If the x-coordinate is: . . . the x-velocity is:
Positive: Particle is moving in +x –
Negative & increasing (getting less
negative) direction
Average Velocity
Rules for the Sign of x-Velocity
If the x-coordinate is: . . . the x-velocity is:
Negative: Particle is moving in –x
Negative & decreasing (getting
more negative) –direction
 Instantaneous Velocity
The instantaneous velocity is the limit of the average velocity as the time
interval approaches zero; it equals the instantaneous rate of change of
position with time.

The time interval is always positive, so has the same algebraic sign as

In physics an instant has no duration at all; it refers to a single value of time.

Motion Graphs
Average and Instantaneous Velocities
Example:
A cheetah is crouched 20 m to the east of an observer. At time t=0 the
cheetah begins to run due east toward an antelope that is 50m to the
east of the observer. During the first 2.0s of the attack, the cheetah’s
coordinate x varies with time according to the equation:
x=20m+(5.0m/
(a) Find the cheetah’s displacement between and =2.0s.
(b) Find its average velocity during that interval.
(c) Derive an expression for the cheetah’s instantaneous velocity as a
function of time, and use it to find at t=1.0s and t = 2.0s.
Average and Instantaneous Velocities
Average and Instantaneous Velocities
Solution:
(a) Find the cheetah’s displacement between and =2.0s.
Given: x=20m+(5.0m/ Find:
= 20m+(5.0m/= 25m
= 20m+(5.0m/= 40m
The displacement during this 1.0-s interval is
Average and Instantaneous Velocities
Solution:
(b) Find its average velocity during that interval.
Find:
Average and Instantaneous Velocities
Solution:
(c)Derive an expression for the cheetah’s instantaneous velocity as a
function of time, and use it to find at t=1.0s and t = 2.0s.
x=20m+(5.0m/
instantaneous velocity is defined as

Substituting eq. (1) to (2) we get,

Average and Instantaneous Velocities
Solution:
(c)Derive an expression for the cheetah’s instantaneous velocity as a
function of time, and use it to find at t=1.0s and t = 2.0s.

Solving for the derivative,

=t
So at t=1.0s and t = 2.0s.
= 10m/s, =20m/s respectively.